Pasco-Hernando Community College Operational Guidelines

Transcription

1 Pasco-Hernando Community College Operational Guidelines I. Operational Definition: PHCC is a formal education process in which the majority of the instructional interaction occurs when students and instructors are not physically in the same place. It is studentcentered learning where the instructional delivery may be synchronous or asynchronous, encompassing all technologies and other forms of learning at a distance. II. Institution Courses Types: Traditional: A course with no online technology used. Content is delivered face-to-face; usually in a lecture format. Blended (Enhanced): A course which uses online technology to facilitate what is essentially a face-to-face course. For example, instructor uses a course management system or web pages to post their syllabus and assignments. Hybrid: Online: A course that blends online and face-to-face delivery. Seat time is reduced with a substantial portion of the content being delivered online. A course where all content and teacher/student interaction occurs online. No required face-to-face meetings. III. Purpose: E-learning is used to provide students flexible access to educational opportunities by: reaching students in remote areas whose attendance at a campus is inconvenient; providing courses for students at one or more sites where there are not sufficient students to warrant traditional classroom instruction; providing courses for place-bound students; providing greater flexibility to students who may enroll in traditional classes as well as e- learning classes.

2 IV. Goals: To encourage the internal development of and support for e-learning at PHCC. To develop or modify procedures for providing quality support services to distance learners. To identify, provide, expand, and coordinate the development and improvement of quality courses and programs to meet the needs of PHCC distance learners. To develop or modify procedures for providing quality support services to e-learning faculty. To provide quality instruction through e-learning modalities to enable students to attain their educational goals. V. Students E-learning programs and courses will reflect the same vision of individual student attention and guidance as those programs and courses offered in a traditional methodology. Supporting e-learning students requires equivalent student services including but not limited to admissions, financial aid, academic advising, registration, disability services, and placement and counseling. Bookstore and financial services must be made available. E-learning students must be provided with access to procedures by which they can address grievances and complaints. Students must also be provided with appropriate access to library and learning resources and to laboratories, facilities, and equipment as appropriate to the courses and programs offered. Advertising, recruiting, and admissions information must adequately and accurately represent e-learning programs, requirements, and the services made available to e-learning students. Prospective students will receive a realistic preview of the e-learning experience through demo courses available on PHCC s learning management system (LMS). PHCC will inform prospective students on issues of admissions, technical requirements, instructional requirements and expectations, library resources, other student support services, program costs, and expectations of e-learning. Through the academic portal, e-students will be involved as part of the academic community. Web-based resources will be available to provide tutorial guidance in the areas of technical and time management skills essential for e-learners. VI. Faculty: E-learning is recognized as being one of many ways in which faculty can interact with students. Faculty members have the right to present their students with information using methodologies of their own choosing. Faculty who choose to teach e-learning courses can expect to receive recognition that such courses do not inherently differ in rigor or content from classroom courses except in the method of presentation. Teaching in an e-learning environment requires student-centered pedagogical and communication strategies, and the institution and faculty member share responsibility for assuring effectiveness.

3 Instructional Assignments Instructors for e-learning courses shall be selected by the same procedures used to determine all instructional assignments. o In the case of multiple instructors interested in teaching a specific e-learning course with limited available sections, the following selection process will be used: Within the first three years from the initial e-course development, or course update, the developing Subject Matter Expert (SME) will be given the opportunity to teach the first available section each term. If there are additional sections of that same e-learning course available, or the SME/ faculty member does not want to teach the first available section, then other interested and qualified faculty members shall be assigned available sections by the appropriate Dean in coordination with Campus Provosts. No faculty shall be assigned to teach an e-learning course without holding an ecertification. The College will ensure that the technology and methodology used for an e-learning course is appropriate to the nature and objectives of the subject. Instructional Standards Curriculum and instructional standards for e-learning follow well established essentials of institutional quality found in accreditation standards. PHCC s standards will be curriculum-driven and defined by qualified professionals that focus on learning outcomes for a diverse population of learners. The same standards of course quality shall be applied to all courses at PHCC, regardless of teaching modality. Each e-learning program and course results in learning appropriate to the rigor and breadth of the degree or certificate awarded. Hybrid, online, and blended courses must meet the standards as identified in the e-course design rubric. Assessing student achievement along with evaluating the quality of courses and programs is critical in determining if e-learning programs are meeting the target learning outcomes. Also important is overall student satisfaction with courses and students continuing motivation to take more courses at a distance. Workload and Standard Class Size E-learning courses are taught as part of the normal workload, or overload, of a faculty member. Educational outcomes and the quality and effectiveness of instruction are important considerations that can affect the desired class size. The number of students assigned to any one e-learning course section will follow the specifications in the College s Standard Course Size Guidelines. Faculty assigned e-learning courses are required to secure the e-learning faculty certification for online, hybrid, and blended courses. Faculty will schedule office hours as required for all courses, in Board Rule.. Faculty Support The Academic Technology Department will provide faculty development and mentoring for the design, development and implementation of e-learning programs and courses. The College will provide appropriate instructional support equipment and software as identified by the applicable division dean and Academic Technology Department.

4 Intellectual Property Rights Refer to Board Rule: 6Hx The College supports and encourages its employees and students to develop scholarly and creative works, educational materials, and products. These forms of intellectual property may involve the use of College personnel and resources. The above referenced Board Rule defines and applies the respective rights of the College, its students, faculty, and staff regarding intellectual property. Compensation The rate of compensation for teaching e-learning courses will be the same as that for teaching traditionally delivered courses. SME will be compensated in accordance with the current Classification Plan and Salary Schedule. VIII. The Institution PHCC adheres to principles of best practices for electronically offered degree and certificate programs as set forth by the commission on colleges of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS). PHCC s commitment to e-learning includes: E-learning programs, courses or certificates offered will be consistent with the institution s role and mission. Technical and physical facilities to support e-learning programs will be provided through the Academic Technology Department. Academic Technology department will be responsible for oversight on the design, development and delivery of targeted online programs. The institution will provide adequate resources and staff to the Academic Technology Department to support the institution s e-learning initiatives. E-learning courses and programs will have a consistent and coherent technical framework for students and faculty. E-learning courses will adhere to the recommended base framework for building e-courses and will be housed in the current learning management system. All e-learning courses and programs at PHCC will adhere to the legal and regulatory requirements including services for those with disabilities and copyright law. IX. Course Development/Review Processes Developing E-Learning Courses: Courses that are proposed to be offered in an e-learning format must either exist as a face-to-face course and have gone through the CIS review process or must go through CIS following a new course proposal request. 1. Academic deans identify potential course(s) to be developed for e-learning delivery and submit their lists to the Vice President of Instruction/Provost WC for approval (prior to budget process in Spring.)

5 2. The list is then submitted to the Council on Instructional Services Committee for informational purposes. The Vice President of Instruction/Provost WC will notify the Assistant Dean of Academic Technology. 3. Subject matter expert (SME) works with an Instructional Design team to develop and coordinate the master course design plan. 4. A Master course is developed by the design team and then goes through a peer review process for quality certification. 5. Course is finally submitted to CIS (for notification purposes only.) Note: Typical development cycle requires a minimum of one year from design to offering. Reviewing E-Learning Courses: An e-learning master course will undergo a review process every three years or upon adoption of primary e- course materials (new text/e-materials, etc.) 1. Academic Deans will notify the Assistant Dean of Academic Technology and CIS of any e-learning course material changes (i.e. new textbook editions, e-packs, etc.) 2. A Subject Matter Expert will work with an instructional designer to update the master e-course. 3. The revised master e-course will go before a peer review committee for a cursory review. 4. For those courses being updated prior to the three year review, a peer review is not necessary unless determined by the Instructional Designer and the Subject Matter Expert. X. Extenuating Circumstances Should there arise extenuating circumstances outside the scope of these operational guidelines, the Vice-President of Instruction/Provost WC, the Assistant Dean of Academic Technology, appropriate faculty member(s), and the appropriate Academic Dean will meet to discuss recommended action.